Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Sealing your headlights [PICS]

Here's how you seal your headlights if you have condensation problems after painting them. I removed the lights to do this "in real life" but for the explanation I just left them on. First mask off around the seam about 2mm on each side. Notice the green masking tape. Then take Automotive Goop and run it over the seam. Smear the goop down smooth and then remove the masking tape. You are then left with a little clean strip right on the seam that should seal them up.

Pic 2: tape removed. (I had already done this so the tape was for illustrative purposes only)

A closeup of the seam with the goop on. I like automotive goop because it doesn't collect dust like silicone does.

Nice illustration & good work I think I use the same stuff or maybe it's the black silicone it sticks like a bi-ach. I'll post up what I used later. Remember to were gloves.

i went to the home depot and picked up clear door and window silicone and havent had a problem since

nice write up

robare99, is that carbon fiber inside your headlights? If so how did you do that? Please post more pics on those headlights please.

No he just painted the inside trim of the headlight like this.

thanks robare, good info

yeah man god damn.. good fucking info! Beats taking off front bumper just to do this simple task lol

what did you do to the reflector housing? you painted that too...looks hot...i shouldve done that when i did mines...time to heat it up again...hehe

very nice rob...

Oh btw I resealed them after I got condensation in one. I removed the whole light and sealed around the whole seam. I just didn't feel like pulling the light to take the pics. Here's the write up I did for painting my headlights...When I DID pull my light, I only had to take out the screw inside the fenderwell. Then I just pulled the bumper down a bit to get at that third screw to remove the light.

A quick tip if you forget to wear gloves is to lick your finger tip and then it won't get the goop all over it.

http://celicagarage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1185

I painted the underside which gave it the ribbed look. I think it's just the angle for the reflector housing, unluess you mean that inside part. Here's a couple more pics of the lights. Great looking mod. I replaced my signal bulbs with chrome bulbs that shine orange. That way there is no orange on the front of my car...

want to do mine!

you did an excellent job with yours

hehe it's really easy. I installed my CAI myself & my exhaust etc. I've done all my mods myself and when I got my car I was TOTALLY Green. I didn't even know what a CAI was! So if I can do it, anyone can. Just take your time & do a good job!

i just know i would fuck up...


i really like hwo you did it

yea it looks so much better paint black. I did mines witht eh ribbed look...i spent like an hour trying to cover the other side with masking tape lol It would look nice if i painted the reflectors so they dont shine silver but like a darker silver...

oh yea...my lenses are fading yellow again...i did the polish compound...but it seems overtime...it turns back yellow and i can never get it back to like when it was new...

I think someone painted the reflectors but then there was hardly any light coming from his bulbs. It's worth it to REALLY take your time and tape the crap out of the top. Be sure the tape is on good and tight so no paint creeps under. Also I did about 3 or 4 light coats so there wouldn't be a build up of runny paint. It loks awesome how the paint seems to collect in the ribs. It's just how the paint is.